Basket catheter conforming to organ using strain-relief elements

Abstract

A catheter includes a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, and an extendable distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly is coupled to the shaft and includes multiple splines. At least one spline includes one or more electrodes and at least one strain-relief element that is configured, when the distal-end assembly is extended in the organ, to allow the spline to conform to a surface of the organ so as to make contact between the electrodes and the surface.

1 . A catheter, comprising:
 a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient; and   an extendable distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and comprises multiple splines, wherein at least one spline comprises one or more electrodes and at least one strain-relief element that is configured, when the distal-end assembly is extended in the organ, to allow the spline to conform to a surface of the organ so as to make contact between the electrodes and the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the strain-relief element comprises nitinol. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein in response to being under a mechanical stress, the strain-relief element is configured to allow the spline to conform to the surface. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the strain-relief element has a shape selected from a list consisting of S-shape, U-Shape, Omega-shape, V-Shape, and Double V-shape. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the strain-relief element is positioned in a proximal-end of the at least one spline. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the strain-relief element is positioned in a distal-end of the at least one spline. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spline comprises:
 at least one strain-relief element positioned at a proximal-end of the at least one spline; and   at least one strain-relief element positioned at a distal-end of the at least one spline.   
     
     
         8 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the extended distal-end assembly is larger than a volume of the organ, and wherein the strain-relief element is configured to partially collapse so as to allow the splines to conform to the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the extended distal-end assembly is smaller than a volume of the organ, and wherein the strain-relief element is configured to extend so as to allow the splines to conform to the surface. 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a catheter, comprising:
 providing a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient; and   coupling to the shaft an extendable distal-end assembly, which comprises multiple splines, wherein at least one spline comprises one or more electrodes and at least one strain-relief element.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein coupling the distal-end assembly comprises forming at least one of the strain-relief element to have a shape selected from a list consisting of S-shape, U-Shape, Omega-shape, V-Shape, and Double V-shape. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein coupling the distal-end assembly comprises positioning the strain-relief element in a proximal-end of the at least one spline. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein coupling the distal-end assembly comprises positioning the strain-relief element in a distal-end of the at least one spline. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein coupling the distal-end assembly comprises:
 positioning at least one strain-relief element at a proximal end of the at least one spline; and   positioning at least one strain-relief element at a distal end of the at least one spline.   
     
     
         15 . A method for applying a medical procedure, comprising:
 inserting a catheter shaft into an organ of a patient;   extending inside the organ a distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and comprises multiple splines, wherein at least one spline comprises one or more electrodes and at least one strain-relief element, so as to allow the spline to conform to a surface of the organ and to make contact between the electrodes and the surface; and   applying the medical procedure using the electrodes.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein extending the distal-end assembly comprises applying the at least one spline to the surface, wherein the at least one strain-relief element is positioned in a proximal-end of the at least one spline. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein extending the distal-end assembly comprises applying the at least one spline to the surface, wherein the at least one strain-relief element is positioned in a distal-end of the at least one spline. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein extending the distal-end assembly comprises applying the at least one spline to the surface, wherein:
 at least one strain-relief element is positioned at a proximal-end of the at least one spline; and   at least one strain-relief element is positioned at a distal-end of the at least one spline.